The Shy Girl Fiasco

The collapse of the book Shy Girl has been most interesting to watch. The first real flashpoint in publishing’s relationship with AI! The novel was self-published in 2025, gathered attention, and was then picked up by a major publisher - Hachette. 

Every self-published writer’s dream is to get picked up by a traditional publisher, right?

Then readers began to notice something was off. The prose felt strange. Not bad in a traditional sense, but that weirdly repetitive, sort of hollow text. As I like to say, way too many words used to say one simple thing. And really florid, pretentious words and phrasing.  

Super interesting was how the scrutiny did not come from critics or industry insiders but from readers. Online communities began pulling the book apart line by line. A YouTube breakdown went viral. People pointed out repeated phrasing and a weird sameness of tone. AI detection tools were brought in, which only added fuel to the fire. Whether those tools are reliable or not is debatable and beside the point. 

The feeling had already set in. 

The writing did not feel human. AMEN!!!!

The publisher stepped in and pulled the book before its US publication date. And publishing is not known for its quick reversals (think The Salt Path here). The author denied using AI directly and suggested that an editor may have introduced it at some stage. OMG!!! Tell the truth because we can feel the use of AI, we are not stupid. Plus, as an editor I find that insulting and loathe The Blame Game in any form. Didn’t she pick up the weird sounding changes in the galleys?  

People knew it was AI. Not in a technical sense, but in a readerly sense. 

A reader opens a book believing that a mind is at work behind the sentences. Not a system or pattern generator but a person making choices. 

The truth is, AI writing is easy to spot. You feel it almost immediately. The bat crazy boring way that language is repeated or overwritten. In many ways, I think early writers go oh that AI suggestion sounds delightful! That’s really good! Look at how pretty those words sound in my description of a sunset! But it’s not.

Quiet is one of those words. Apparently, everything is quiet now. Quiet tension. Quiet moments. Quiet revelations. If I see the word quiet again, I will scream! 

Readers will not put up with it. They are already not putting up with it. And they are far better at detecting it than anyone expected.

YAY!

Write, my dear writer friends, write everything in your own words.

In other News: 

After Our Memoir Zoom a few of you have asked once we find our main, over-riding question, do we need to finish our stories with a clear answer? This is a good question that leads us seamlessly into our Major Dramatic Question Class on April 14.

NO, you don’t really. What your memoir needs is a clear movement in understanding or towards understanding. Readers are not expecting you to solve your life the way a detective solves a crime. What they want is to see that you have wrestled honestly with your questions (several examples were given in the Zoom class) and they travel on your emotional journey with you as you tussle it to the ground.

Major Dramatic Question Workshop Details

Date: Tuesday, 14 April 2026
Time:

• Sydney 7:00 PM (AEST)
• London: 10:00 AM (BST)
• Central Europe: 11:00 AM (CEST)

Location: Live on Zoom (link provided after booking)

Early Bird: $99 AUD if booked two weeks in advance (the Art of Writing site will automatically change your currency)

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In some really good news: 

I cannot stress the importance of having excellent profile shots. Not a selfie that your kids took (even if your children are remarkably talented) while you were on holiday. Everyone needs a professional profile shot. In fact, a professional profile shot that looks like you now. Not 20 years ago. Relaxed, easy, confident. A fabulous photographer friend of mine, Susan Wright is offering Art of Writing writers the opportunity to have some wonderful profile shots taken. Susan’s offer also extends to our November Rome Art of Writing writers. Mad if you don’t book in a session. But Susan will be shooting in Europe from April, so you don’t have much time. Book now or a session after the European summer? Our Art of Writing Rome writers can book in with her now, as Susan has made sure she is in Rome during our retreat week. We road tested this idea with a retreat in Florence and it was fantastic because writers then had photos as reminders of their time in Italy.

TICKET NEWS:

I just bought my ticket to Italy via the Middle East. Yes! I did! Because Australians are buying airline tickets to Europe through Asia, prices are around $3,000 AUD minimum. Etihad is offering $1,300 AUD tickets through Abu Dhabi. I figure the trouble in the Middle East will ultimately die down. So take advantage of GREAT Etihad, Qatar or Emirates flight deals now. If the trouble explodes further, no one will be travelling. So might as well go the cheaper ticket through the Middle East now. The Rome retreat is not till November 8-12. For $1,300 Sydney/Rome return? Why not?

IN YET MORE NEWS: 

The Story Workshop, Sydney, August 21-23 2026 gets more and more exciting!

What You Get

• 9 workshop sessions with 8 industry specialists
• The option to submit a precis for introduction to an international literary agent
• A live Q and A with a literary agent on the final day
• Hearty sandwiches for lunch with tea and coffee
• All handouts and notebooks
• A welcoming space for writers of all levels
• A panel with three career writers exploring memoir, historical fiction, and how to find your niche

Feel free to write to us at The Art of Writing for the 3 day Sydney Program. 😊

Payment plans available. Write to us about a deposit to secure your place.

More next week!